Single login authentication for users with multiple IPV4/IPV6 addresses

ABSTRACT

Disclosed in the authentication and authorization of a client device to access a plurality of resources, requiring a user of a client device to enter only one set of login information. Authentication and authorization of a client device to access a plurality of resources after an initial set of login information is received by a networked computing environment. After the initial set of login information is received, a series of steps are performed that may be entirely transparent to the user of the client device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation and claims the priority benefit ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/473,190 filed Aug. 29, 2014, nowU.S. Pat. No. 9,467,456. The disclosure is incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention is generally related to providing access tomultiple resources in a computer network by using a single loginauthentication instead of many. More specifically, the present inventionrelates to a client device gaining access to resources on a computernetwork that use different internet protocol addresses using only asingle set of login information.

Description of the Related Art

Client computers seeking to access digital content through a networksuch as the internet or an intranet communicate with host computersusing one of a plurality of standard internet communication protocolsusing one or more internet protocol addresses. Furthermore, these clientcomputers may communicate with one resource using one internet protocolversion using a first internet protocol address, and communicate withanother resource using another internet protocol address. In certaininstances, a client computer uses a single internet protocol version toaccess different resources using a different internet protocol addressfor each resource. In certain other instances, a client computer uses afirst internet protocol address to access a first set of resources, anduses a second internet protocol address to access a second set ofresources. The most common versions of internet communication protocolsused today are IPv4 (internet protocol version 4) and IPv6 (internetprotocol version 6). Most computers today have at least one IPv4 addressand multiple IPv6 addresses.

Conventionally, communications from a client computer that is seeking toaccess a resource from a host computer must communicate with theresource using an internet protocol version and a WEB browser.Frequently, during this process, the client computer communicates with agateway, and the gateway will redirect the client to an authenticationpage located in a login server. Once a user of the client computerenters a correct login username and password, the client will beauthenticated to access that resource using only the internet protocol(IP) address that was used to communicate with the login server. When auser of the client computer wishes to access another resource using adifferent internet protocol addresses, the user must perform a secondauthentication process. This commonly occurs when a client computeraccesses a plurality of different resources. In certain instances, theuser of the client computer may have to use a separate loginauthentication process for each and every IP address used to access oneor more resources by the client computer.

When a single client device accesses a plurality of different resources,each requiring independent authentication, a user of the client devicemust stop working and must engage in one or more independentauthentications of their identity. Given that a single user of a clientdevice may access many resources during a work session, the productivityof that user can be reduced significantly as the user has to performmany separate authentications during the course of a work session.

In order to increase productivity of a user of a client computeraccessing a plurality of resources, a method for authenticating theidentity of a client device (or its user) to a plurality of resourcesvirtually simultaneously is needed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a computing device that may beused to implement various embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a client computer in communication with a gateway anda server administrating a login function.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart that illustrates a series of steps prior to astep that performs the Single Login Authentication (SLA) process.

FIG. 4 depicts a flow chart of the Single Login Authentication (SLA)process.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart that illustrates steps executed by a clientdevice before and during the Single Login Authentication (SLA) process.

FIG. 6A depicts a client device attempting to access two differentresources that require authentication before the client device mayaccesses the two different resources.

FIG. 6B depicts a client device communicating with two differentresources after the client device has been authenticated and authorizedto access those two different resources.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENTLY CLAIMED INVENTION

The presently claimed invention authenticates and authorizes a clientdevice to access a plurality of resources, requiring a user of a clientdevice to enter only one set of login information. Since conventionalnetworked computing environments require a user of a client device toprovide a set of login information for each IP address used to accessone or more resources by a client computer, the presently claimedinvention increases the productivity of the data center.

The presently claimed invention authenticates and authorizes a clientdevice to access a plurality of resources using a plurality of differentIP address after an initial set of login information is received by anetworked computing environment. After the initial set of logininformation is received, the presently claimed invention performs theseries of steps in a manner that may be entirely transparent to a userof the client device. Steps in the presently claimed invention includetransmitting login authentication information to a client device, andreceiving a plurality of login authentication requests from the clientdevice. The login authentication information transmitted to the clientdevice includes a list of internet protocol addresses that the clientdevice may use when generating one or more of the login authenticationrequests. Each individual internet protocol address in the list may usethe same or a different internet protocol version as another individualinternet protocol address in the list.

The method of the presently claimed invention continues when a logincomplete message is received from the client device, the receipt of thelogin complete message is followed by the transmission of a logincomplete page to the client device. Finally, the client device isallowed to access the authorized resources in the networked computingenvironment.

In certain embodiments, the optional step of transmitting responsemessages to the client device precedes the receiving of the logincomplete message. In these embodiments, each of the response messagescorrespond to one of the login authentication requests received.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a device for implementing the presenttechnology. FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary computing system 100 thatmay be used to implement a computing device for use with the presenttechnology. System 100 of FIG. 1 may be implemented in the contexts ofthe likes of clients and servers. The computing system 100 of FIG. 1includes one or more processors 110 and memory 120. Main memory 120 maystore, in part, instructions and data for execution by processor 110.Main memory 120 can store the executable code when in operation. Thesystem 100 of FIG. 1 further includes mass storage 130, which mayinclude resident mass storage and portable storage, antenna 140, outputdevices 150, user input devices 160, a display system 170, andperipheral devices 180.

The components shown in FIG. 1 are depicted as being connected via asingle bus 190. However, the components may be connected through one ormore data transport means. For example, processor unit 110 and mainmemory 120 may be connected via a local microprocessor bus, and thestorage 130, peripheral device(s) 180, and display system 170 may beconnected via one or more input/output (I/O) buses.

Mass storage device 130, which may include mass storage implemented witha magnetic disk drive or an optical disk drive, or be a portable storagedevice. Mass storage device 130 can store the system software forimplementing embodiments of the present invention for purposes ofloading that software into main memory 120.

In certain instances mass storage 130 may include a portable storagedevice, such as a floppy disk, compact disk, a Digital video disc, or aUSB data storage device. The system software for implementingembodiments of the present invention may be stored on such a portablemedium and input to the computer system 100 via the portable storagedevice.

Antenna 140 may include one or more antennas for communicatingwirelessly with another device. Antenna 140 may be used, for example, tocommunicate wirelessly via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, with a cellular network, orwith other wireless protocols and systems. The one or more antennas maybe controlled by a processor 110, which may include a controller, totransmit and receive wireless signals. For example, processor 110executes programs stored in memory 120 to control antenna 140 transmit awireless signal to a cellular network and receive a wireless signal froma cellular network.

The system 100 as shown in FIG. 1 includes output devices 150 and inputdevices 160. Examples of suitable output devices include speakers,printers, network interfaces, and monitors. Input devices 160 mayinclude a touch screen, microphone, accelerometers, a camera, and otherdevices. Input devices 160 may also include an alpha-numeric keypad,such as a keyboard, for inputting alpha-numeric and other information,or a pointing device, such as a mouse, a trackball, stylus, or cursordirection keys.

Display system 170 may include a liquid crystal display (LCD), LEDdisplay, a plasma display, or be another suitable display device.Display system 170 receives textual and graphical information, andprocesses the information for output to the display device.

Peripherals 180 may include any type of computer support device to addadditional functionality to the computer system. For example, peripheraldevice(s) 180 may include a modem or a router.

The components contained in the computer system 100 of FIG. 1 are thosetypically found in computing system, such as but not limited to adesktop computer, laptop computer, notebook computer, netbook computer,tablet computer, smart phone, personal data assistant (PDA), or othercomputer that may be suitable for use with embodiments of the presentinvention and are intended to represent a broad category of suchcomputer components that are well known in the art. Thus, the computersystem 100 of FIG. 1 can be a personal computer, hand held computingdevice, telephone, mobile computing device, workstation, server,minicomputer, mainframe computer, or any other computing device. Thecomputer can also include different bus configurations, networkedplatforms, multi-processor platforms, etc. Various operating systems canbe used including Unix, Linux, Windows, Macintosh OS, Palm OS, and othersuitable operating systems.

FIG. 2 illustrates a client computer in communication with a gateway anda server administrating a login function. FIG. 2 includes a clientdevice 210 in communication with a gateway 220, and a login server 230.A single login authentication (SLA) process consistent with theinvention is initiated after a user of a client device communicates itsintent to access one or more resources located on one or more servers ina networked computing environment. The gateway 220 is a computing devicethat routes network traffic in a computer networking environment. Atleast one of the one or more servers in the networked computingenvironment performs the function of a login server 230. In certaininstances the gateway 220 and the login server 230 are located withinthe same computing device. In other instances, a firewall (not depicted)may also be used in implementations of the invention. In theseinstances, the firewall an independent device, may be located within thesame computing device as the gateway, or may be located within acomputing device that performs the functions of the gateway and thelogin server. In yet other instances, the invention may use a pluralityof other servers when performing an SLA process that is consistent withthe embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart that illustrates a series of steps prior to astep that performs the SLA process. The flow chart 300 begins with step310 where a communication (network traffic) is received by the gateway220 from the client device 210 through a WEB browser. In step 330 thegateway 220 identifies that this communication requires authenticationand authorization prior to servicing the communication.

In certain instances, the gateway 220 will also temporarily store thecommunication received from the client device and send an authenticationredirect message (not depicted) to the client device. The authenticationredirect message (not depicted) informs the client device that theauthentication and authorization functions have been redirected to thelogin server 230 by passing through the communication to the loginserver 230. In certain other instances, the gateway 220 performs thefunction of the login server. In these other instances, the gateway 220will not necessarily need to redirect the authentication andauthorization functions to a separate login server, yet will typicallyinform the client when an authentication needs to be performed.

Step 340 is a step where the login server transmits a loginauthentication request to the client device. After this, the loginserver receives login information from the client device at step 350. Incertain instances the login information includes one or more of ausername, a password, an identifier that uniquely identifies the clientdevice, and a login token.

FIG. 3 concludes with step 360 where the Single Login Authentication(SLA) process is implemented. FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment of the SLAprocess from the perspective of a computing device located in thenetworked computing environment.

In certain instances the login tokens discussed above are transmittedthrough electronic communications to the client device at a point intime before the client device transmits the communication. Examples oflogin tokens being electronically transmitted are email, secure email,and a text message. In certain other instances a login token may beincluded in a hardware device that is either temporarily or permanentlyattached to the client device. Examples of such hardware devices includea memory programmed in an electronic device, a USB thumb drive thatincludes the login token, or be a wireless device that is in closeproximity to the client device. An example of such a wireless device isa memory communicating using the Bluetooth™ wireless standard.

This process may also include directing an initial login authenticationquery to a remote authorization server. This step (not depicted) issimilar to step 340 of FIG. 3. The difference is that this loginauthentication is performed by a remote authorization server and not thelogin server. Here again login traffic may pass through a firewall, andbe directed to the remote authorization server by the gateway.

FIG. 4 depicts a flow chart of the Single Login Authentication (SLA)process. The SLA process 400 of FIG. 4 begins with step 410 where loginauthorization information is transmitted to the client device. After theclient device receives and processes the login authorizationinformation, the client device transmits SLA authentication requests(SLA requests) to the login server.

At step 420, SLA requests are received by the login server. Typically aplurality of SLA requests are received asynchronously and substantiallysimultaneously by the login server. Since the plurality of requests aretransmitted asynchronously and substantially simultaneously, they willtypically be processed predominantly concurrently such that individualSLA responses (when used) correspond each individual SLA requests. Thus,when SLA response is used, the SLA responses should be available withina limited time period.

Step 430 is an optional step where SLA responses are used. Step 430 iswhere response messages are transmitted to the client device after theSLA requests have been received and processed. Each of these SLAresponse messages correspond to an individual SLA request. Since each ofthe plurality of SLA requests are processed substantially concurrently,the SLA responses for each of the SLA requests should be receivedsubstantially simultaneously. This is because each of the processingrequests should take a similar amount of time to process. Typically,these SLA response messages will also be transmitted asynchronously tothe client device.

Step 440 is where a login complete message is received from the clientdevice. In embodiments of the invention that include step 430, the logincomplete message may be transmitted by the client device immediatelyafter the SLA response messages are received by the client device. Step450 is where a login complete page is transmitted to the client device.After step 450, the client device will be allowed access to one or moreresources in step 460 using one or more IP addresses.

Typically, the client device in the presently claimed invention does notknow what resources are authorized in an SLA process. In certainembodiments of the invention, an IPv4 address and an IPv6 address areboth authenticated and authorized during the SLA process. In theseembodiments, the IPv4 address will typically be associated with a firstgroup of resources, and the IPv6 address will typically be associatedwith a second group of resources. In these embodiments, resourcesassociated with the IPv4 address or with the IPv6 address may beaccessed at a later time without an additional login sequence. At themoment when the SLA process is performed, an IP address of the clientdevice will be authenticated and authorized, and one or more resourcesassociated with that client IP address may accessed at a later time. Inthese instances only a computing device performing authentication ofclient devices will be aware that a particular client device may accessspecific resources in the computer networking environment. The presentlyclaimed invention, thus performs multiple authentications using a singleuser login without the need for the client device to be aware of whichauthentications have been performed successfully. In instances where theclient device is not aware of failed SLA requests, the client couldperform separate subsequent explicit authentications to access resourcesassociated with the failed SLA requests.

Table 1 shows examples of a set of Single Login Authentication (SLA)information that may be used in certain embodiments of the invention. Inthese embodiments, the SLA information transmitted to the client devicein step 410 of FIG. 4 includes this information. Table 1 includes afirst entry, the current client IP address. The current client IPaddress is an initial internet protocol address used by the clientdevice. The table also includes a login port that identifies a port thatthe client device should use to send SLA requests, and a tokenidentifier that is a label used to refer to an SLA request. Table 1 alsoincludes a token challenge that acts as a challenge message for SLArequests. An example of a token challenge is a random number in ahexadecimal format that is used in a Challenge-Handshake AuthenticationProtocol (CHAP) authentication of SLA requests. Tokens used in the SLAprocess are SLA authentication tokens. SLA authentication tokens andlogin tokens are different, login tokens are used in the initial loginthat a user of the client device will use or reference when providinglogin information from the client device. In contrast, SLAauthentication tokens may either be provided in the SLA information orbe generated by the client device during the SLA process.

The table also includes the entry of do HTTP initiate, this entry whenset directs the client device to use HTTP, a non-secure hypertexttransmission protocol when transmitting SLA requests. Typically whenthis entry is not set, the client device will use HTTPS, a securehypertext transmission protocol, when transmitting SLA requests. Table 1also includes the timeout “wait sec timeout”, a “next page” entry, and a“combined login address array.” In certain embodiments of the invention,the wait sec timeout is a time that the client device should expect toreceive SLA response messages after the client device transmits SLArequests. In certain other embodiments of the invention, the wait settimeout is a period of time that the client device will wait beforetransmitting the login complete message. The “next page” entry in Table1 identifies a page that should be fetched after the SLA process hascompleted. Typically, the next page fetched is a login complete page.

Finally, the combined login address array of Table 1 includes a list ofall internet protocol addresses associated with a port that will be usedto transmit SLA requests. These internet protocol addresses willtypically be addresses associated with a firewall, a gateway, a server,or a resource located in the networked computing environment. The clientdevice uses these addresses when composing or transmitting SLA requests.Typically the client device will generate different SLA requests, onecorresponding to each and every one of these internet protocoladdresses.

The addresses included in the combined login address array may bereferred to as server IP addresses. Each server IP address willtypically identify a range of IP addresses that are accessible by thelogin server. The browser of the client device will select an IP addressthat corresponds to a particular server IP addresses when generating theSLA requests. The IP addresses selected by the browser in the clientdevice will be referred to herein as client IP addresses. Since theserver IP addresses include a range of IP addresses, and the client IPaddresses are addresses selected by the client device, a server IPaddress will be related to, yet are not identical to the selected clientIP address.

TABLE 1 Example Login Authorization Information Content SLA INFORMATIONDESCRIPTION Current Client IP Address Initial Client IP Address of theclient device Login Port TCP Port to send SLA requests Token IdentifierNumber label of SLA requests Token Challenge A authentication token, orinformation that may be used to generate one or more authenticationtokens Do HTTP Initiate When set, the HTTP protocol is enabled totransmit SLA requests. Otherwise, use HTTPS. Wait SEC Timeout Timeoutthat sets how long a client will wait to receive all responses to SLArequests Next Page Identifies the next page to fetch after the SLAprocess is complete Combined Login Address Array A list of all IPaddresses associated with the current port used for SLA requests

The SLA information page provides information that the client deviceuses to generate SLA requests, and may also include execution routinesthat the client device uses when generating those SLA requests. Incertain instances, the SLA process described above occurs without theuser of the client device being aware that multiple authentications arebeing performed. In yet other instances, the user of the client devicemay be informed that multiple authentications have been performed. Ineither case the user of the client device is freed from the laborioustask of providing multiple login authentications to gain access to aplurality of resources in the network computing environment.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart that illustrates steps executed by a clientdevice before and during the SLA process. The figure begins with step505, where a WEB communication is transmitted from a client devicewishing to gain access to resources located in a networked computingenvironment. This WEB communication is the same type of publiccommunication as the communication in step 310 of FIG. 3. Aftertransmitting the WEB communication, the client device receives anauthentication request message 510 indicating that the user of theclient device or the client device itself must provide login informationto obtain access to resources in the networked computing environment.Once the user enters the appropriate login information the client devicetransmits this information 515 to the login server for authentication.As described in respect to FIG. 3, this information includes one or moreof a username, a password, an identifier that uniquely identifies theclient device, and a login token. In certain instances the login tokensdiscussed above are transmitted through electronic communications to theclient device at a point in time before the client device transmits thecommunication.

Examples of login tokens being electronically transmitted are email,secure email, and a text message. In certain other instances a logintoken may be included in a hardware device that is either temporarily orpermanently attached to the client device. Examples of such hardwaredevices include a memory programmed in an electronic device, a USB thumbdrive that includes the login token, or be a wireless device that is inclose proximity to the client device. An example of such a wirelessdevice is a memory communicating using the Bluetooth™ wireless standard.

In step 520 the client device receives login authentication information,such as the login authentication information described in respect toTable 1. FIG. 5 then proceeds to step 525 where one or more SLAauthentication tokens are generated. After the one or moreauthentication tokens are generated, the method proceeds to step 530where the SLA authentication requests are composed. In step 535 the SLArequests are transmitted to the login server. As described above inrespect to FIG. 3, the authentication requests are usually transmittedasynchronously and substantially simultaneously.

Typically, a plurality of individual SLA requests are transmitted in amanner consistent with the SLA process. When the plurality of requestsare transmitted asynchronously and substantially simultaneously, theymay be processed predominantly concurrently such that responses to eachof the requests may be transmitted back to the client device within alimited time period.

Step 540, an optional step in FIG. 5, is where the client device sets atimeout that corresponds to a time that the client device will waitbefore proceeding, or that corresponds to a time within which SLAresponse messages should be received. Step 545 is another optional stepwhere SLA responses are received by the client device in response to theSLA requests that were transmitted in step 535. Finally, FIG. 5 endswith step 550 where the client device is redirected to a next page.

Table 2 shows example of information that may be included in an SLArequest. SLA request information typically includes an internet protocoladdress, a callback function parameter, a generated token, and a tokenidentifier.

The internet protocol address in Table 2 is an IP address that relatesto the SLA request. In certain instances this IP address is the currentinternet protocol address referenced in Table 1, and it is used as a keyto associate all SLA requests received by the login server so that thelogin server knows which client device a set of SLA requests comes from.The callback function parameter is a parameter that relates to the typeof content in the SLA request. The generated token is a token generatedin step 525 of FIG. 5, it is an SLA authentication token. The tokenidentifier is a label used to identify the SLA authentication token, incertain instances this token identifier is the token identifierdescribed in respect to Table 1.

TABLE 2 Example SLA Request Information Request Content SLA REQUESTINFORMATION DESCRIPTION Internet Protocol Address IP address relating tothe SLA request Callback Function Parameter (jcb) A parameter thatidentifies content in the SLA request or the format of the SLA requestGenerated Token This is a token generated for the SLA request TokenIdentifier This is an identifying number of the Token

In certain instances, the login authentication token generated iscalculated in a CHAP style using a hash of the token identifier, acached password, and the token challenge information from Table 1. Anexample of a method for generating an authentication token is expressedby the formula: Token=MD5 (token ID+password+token challenge info). Thisformula indicates that the token is calculated using an MD5 hashalgorithm using the token ID, the password, and token challengeinformation. While one or more authentication tokens may be generatedfor each individual SLA request, typically only a single authenticationtoken will be generated for each of the plurality of SLA requests usedduring an SLA authentication process. Using a single authenticationtoken for a particular SLA authentication process simplifies the SLAauthentication process, and allows gateways or firewalls with limitedresources to be used with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6A depicts a client device attempting to access two differentresources that require authentication before the client device mayaccesses the two different resources. FIG. 6A depicts client device 610attempting to access resource Y (yahoo.com) by transmittingcommunication 1. The figure depicts communication 1 being intercepted 1INT by the login server 620. Here the login server 620 intercepts thecommunication and then authenticates client device 610 to accessresource Y. FIG. 6A also depicts client device 610 attempting to accessresource G (google.com) by transmitting communication 2. Communication 2is intercepted 2 INT by the login server 620, and the login server 620authenticates client device 610 to access resource G. Items C4, D4, C6,E6, A4, and A6 in the figure are peer IP addresses from relatedperspectives. Peer IP address C4, D4, and A4 use internet protocolversion 4 (IPv4), and peer IP addresses C6, E6, and A6 use internetprotocol version 6 (IPv6). Embodiments of invention may use one or moreIPv4 addresses, one or more IPv6 addresses, or a mixture of IPv4 andIPv6 addresses.

In FIG. 6A, the peer address of resource Y from the perspective ofclient device 610 is D4. After the login server 620 intercepts 1 INTcommunication 1, the login server 620 communicates with the clientdevice 610 using peer IP address C4, and client device 610 communicateswith login server using peer IP address A4. Similarly, the peer addressof resource G from the perspective of client device 610 is E6. After thelogin server intercepts 2 INT communication 2, the login server 620communicates with the client device using peer IP address C6, and clientdevice communicates with the login server using peer IP address A6.

FIG. 6B depicts a client device communicating with two differentresources after the client device has been authenticated and authorizedto access those two different resources. FIG. 6B depicts communications1T between client device 610 and resource Y, and communications 2Tbetween client device 610 and resource G. In this figure, client device610 communicates with resource Y using peer IP address D4, and resourceY communicates with the client device 610 using peer IP address C4. Thefigure also shows client device 610 communicating with resource G usingpeer IP address E6, and resource Y communicating with the client device610 using peer IP address C6.

Before the presently claimed invention, a user of client device 610would have to enter login information twice before allowing the clientdevice to access resource Y and resource G. The presently claimedinvention authenticates client device 610 to access both resource Y andresource G after the user of client device enters login informationonce. In one example embodiment, this is implemented by registering peerIP address C6 (which is known from SLA request) into a user table, andassociating peer address C6 with C4 when C4 is the initial peer IPaddress used in an initial login sequence. In another exampleembodiment, this is implemented by registering peer IP address C4 (whichis know from SLA request) into a user table, and associating peeraddress C4 with C6 when C6 is the initial peer IP address used in aninitial login sequence. Furthermore, the presently claimed invention mayauthenticate and allow a client device to access any number of resourceson a computer network.

SLA requests received by the networked computing environment will beprocessed by a module that extracts and decodes the parameters includedin the request. In certain instances, parameters such as the token ID,password, token challenge information, and/or other information may becached in the networked computing environment.

In certain instances, SLA requests and responses will use JavaScriptcompatible JSONP communication formats when performing WEBcommunications. In certain of these instances, a JSONP communicationwill be blocked if the JSONP communication is considered insecure. Anexample of an insecure JSONP communication is a communication to anotherdomain using JSONP over HTTP in an HTTPS page. An example of a secureJSONP communication is a communication to another domain using JSONPover HTTPS in an HTTPS page. In instances when JSONP is consideredinsecure the blocking of the message may be prevented by applying theHTML tag “img”. When using the HTML tag “img”, the originator of thecommunication takes responsibility for the security of thecommunication. Typically, in these instances, all parameters containingreferences to JSONP must set to “img” as well. Here parameter “jcb”,referenced in Table 2, indicates the communication type. Since the “img”HTML tag is associated with harmless image communications,communications using the “img” HTML tag will be considered secure where“JSONP” communications would be considered insecure. This isparticularly true when the communications use HTTP.

An example of a JSONP compatible communication is a communication thatincludes: IP address 192.168.168.3; a callback function parameter ofjsonp139; a token 22cbc; and a token ID of 194. An example of acommunication using the “img” HTML tag that may be used when a JSONPcommunication would be blocked, is a communication that includes: IP192.168.168.3 address; callback function parameter img; token 9f70bb;and token ID 218.

The foregoing detailed description of the technology herein has beenpresented for purposes of illustration and description. It is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the technology to the precise formdisclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light ofthe above teaching. The described embodiments were chosen in order tobest explain the principles of the technology and its practicalapplication to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilizethe technology in various embodiments and with various modifications asare suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that thescope of the technology be defined by the claims appended hereto.

Embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in various formsof hardware and software. Embodiments of the present invention may becontrolled in part or entirely in a non-transitory computer storagemedium having embodied thereon a program executable by a processor.Embodiments of the present invention may also be implemented using anApplication Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), or other forms ofelectronic hardware. Thus, the invention may be implemented as anon-transitory computer readable storage medium, as a method, or in anapparatus.

While various embodiments have been described above, it should beunderstood that they have been presented by way of example only, and notlimitation. The descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of thepresently claimed invention or to limit the scope of embodiments of thepresent invention. The present descriptions are intended to coveralternatives, modifications, and equivalents consistent with the spiritand scope of the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for authenticating user credentials, themethod comprising: receiving a first authorization request and a secondauthorization request sent from a client device, wherein the firstauthorization request requests authorization to access a first group ofresources that are associated with a first server internet protocol (IP)address compatible with a first IP version, and wherein the secondauthorization request requests authorization to access a second group ofresources that are associated with a second server IP address compatiblewith a second IP version; receiving a set of login information from theclient device; and authenticating the client device based on the set oflogin information received from the client device, wherein the clientdevice is authenticated to access the first group of resources and thesecond group of resources via a single authentication process, andwherein the client device accesses the first group of resourcesaccording to the first IP version and accesses the second group ofresources according to the second IP version based the singleauthentication process without requiring another authentication process.2. The method of claim 1, wherein a gateway intercepts and forwards thefirst authentication request and the second authentication request to alogin server.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein a server not associatedwith the first IP address or with the second IP address intercepts thefirst and the second authentication request.
 4. The method of claim 3,wherein the server is a login server.
 5. The method of claim 1, whereinthe first server IP address is associated with a first server, and thesecond server IP address is associated with a second server.
 6. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the first IP version is the IP version 4(IPV4) and the second IP version is the IP version 6 (IPV6).
 7. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the first IP address and the second IPaddress are each associated with different predetermined ranges of IPaddresses.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first IP address andthe second IP address are both associated with a first server.
 9. Thenon-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein thefirst server IP address is associated with a first server, and thesecond server IP address is associated with a second server.
 10. Anon-transitory computer readable storage medium having embodied thereona program executable by a processor for implementing a method forauthenticating user credentials, the method comprising: receiving afirst authorization request and a second authorization request sent froma client device, wherein the first authorization request requestsauthorization to access a first group of resources that are associatedwith a first server internet protocol (IP) address compatible with afirst IP version, and wherein the second authorization request requestsauthorization to access a second group of resources that are associatedwith a second server IP address compatible with a second IP version;receiving a set of login information from the client device; andauthenticating the client device based on the set of login informationreceived from the client device, wherein the client device isauthenticated to access the first group of resources and the secondgroup of resources via a single authentication process, and wherein theclient device accesses the first group of resources according to thefirst IP version and accesses the second group of resources according tothe second IP version based the single authentication process withoutrequiring another authentication process.
 11. The non-transitorycomputer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein a gatewayintercepts and forwards the first authentication request and the secondauthentication request to a login server.
 12. The non-transitorycomputer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein a server notassociated with the first IP address or with the second IP addressintercepts the first and the second authentication request.
 13. Thenon-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein theserver is a login server.
 14. The non-transitory computer readablestorage medium of claim 10, wherein the first IP version is the IPversion 4 (IPV4) and the second IP version is the IP version 6 (IPV6).15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10,wherein the first IP address and the second IP address are eachassociated with different predetermined ranges of IP addresses.
 16. Thenon-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein thefirst IP address and the second IP address are both associated with afirst server.
 17. A system for authenticating user credentials, thesystem comprising: one or more host computers that host a first group ofresources associated with a first server IP address compatible with afirst IP version and a second group of resources associated with asecond server IP address compatible with a second IP version; and alogin server comprising: a network interface that communicates over acommunication network with the client device, wherein the networkinterface: receives a first authorization request regarding access thefirst group of resources, receives a second authorization requestregarding access the second group of resources, and a set of logininformation; a processor that executes instructions stored in memory,wherein execution of the instructions by the processor authenticates theclient device based on the set of login information received from theclient device, wherein the client device is authenticated to access thefirst group of resources and to access the second group of resources viaa single authentication process, and wherein the client device accessesthe first group of resources according to the first IP version andaccesses the second group of resources according to the second IPversion based the single authentication process without requiringanother authentication process.
 18. The system of claim 17, furthercomprising a first server and a second server, wherein the first serverIP address is associated with the first server, and the second server IPaddress is associated with the second server.
 19. The system of claim17, further comprising a first server, wherein the first IP address andthe second IP address are associated with the first server.
 20. Thesystem of claim 17, wherein the first IP version is the IP version 4(IPV4) and the second IP version is the IP version 6 (IPV6).